Can atheists visit your place of worship, if you are religious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m no longer religious, but I was Mormon and the answer is that it depends. Almost all religious activities happen at regular chapels and everybody is welcome there. A few religious ceremonies take place in temples (those more ostentatious buildings) and atheists are not allowed there; in fact many believing and active members are not allowed there.

But if you keep your atheism to yourself, you can participate freely -- right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely (Roman Catholic)

+1

Yes, of course. Let them know not to take communion, though, and just wait in the pew.

[Anonymous]

Yep. Episcopal. Just before communion, our priest explicitly welcomes everyone, wherever they are on their faith journey, or whether they don't think they have any faith at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Episcopalian and definitely. We've almost certainly got atheists as regular parishioners.

+1. Episcopalianism seems to draw a lot of people who like the ritual, music, and contemplative aspects of worship, and openly tolerates questions and doubts. I've heard sermons where Episcopal priests have talked openly about wanting to help parishioners question/examine their faith.

Yes, the Episcopal church is a good place for atheists who can tolerate, or even like, going through the ritual of the mass every week. You'll have plenty of company, maybe including the priests.

Why in the world would a person kill Sunday mornings watching other people play dress up and put on a show nobody believes in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m no longer religious, but I was Mormon and the answer is that it depends. Almost all religious activities happen at regular chapels and everybody is welcome there. A few religious ceremonies take place in temples (those more ostentatious buildings) and atheists are not allowed there; in fact many believing and active members are not allowed there.

But if you keep your atheism to yourself, you can participate freely -- right?

Different poster here. I'm not Mormon, but I know some people who are LDS, and the answer is no. You can only go into the temple if you are in good standing with the church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Episcopalian and definitely. We've almost certainly got atheists as regular parishioners.

+1. Episcopalianism seems to draw a lot of people who like the ritual, music, and contemplative aspects of worship, and openly tolerates questions and doubts. I've heard sermons where Episcopal priests have talked openly about wanting to help parishioners question/examine their faith.

Yes, the Episcopal church is a good place for atheists who can tolerate, or even like, going through the ritual of the mass every week. You'll have plenty of company, maybe including the priests.

Why in the world would a person kill Sunday mornings watching other people play dress up and put on a show nobody believes in?

It’s free. The other people there genuinely want to best for you. Where else can you just show up and say that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m no longer religious, but I was Mormon and the answer is that it depends. Almost all religious activities happen at regular chapels and everybody is welcome there. A few religious ceremonies take place in temples (those more ostentatious buildings) and atheists are not allowed there; in fact many believing and active members are not allowed there.

But if you keep your atheism to yourself, you can participate freely -- right?

Different poster here. I'm not Mormon, but I know some people who are LDS, and the answer is no. You can only go into the temple if you are in good standing with the church.

Indeed. You can lie, but it would take major commitment. You have to be going to church regularly, (the person who gives you a little card that says you can go to the temple is the head of the congregation so he knows how much you have been going), and you have to profess belief in God during an interview. I have heard stories of people lying about their beliefs and stories of people borrowing somebody else’s card to gain access, but it’s rare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Episcopalian and definitely. We've almost certainly got atheists as regular parishioners.

+1. Episcopalianism seems to draw a lot of people who like the ritual, music, and contemplative aspects of worship, and openly tolerates questions and doubts. I've heard sermons where Episcopal priests have talked openly about wanting to help parishioners question/examine their faith.

Yes, the Episcopal church is a good place for atheists who can tolerate, or even like, going through the ritual of the mass every week. You'll have plenty of company, maybe including the priests.

Why in the world would a person kill Sunday mornings watching other people play dress up and put on a show nobody believes in?

Some enjoy the ritual and the social justice focus of the ECUSA. I’d say half in our pews are either atheists to an extent or at least take the whole denominational thing as something not really important - many doubt the historicity of Jesus for example. The beauty of the ECUSA is that a member can mold the faith into something that suits them individually and are not dictated to with what must be believed.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Presbyterian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And what is your religion?

What a weird question.

I'm a not particularly evangelical (and not at all Evangelical) brand of Christian, but even we aren't going to turn someone away who is interested in learning more about our beliefs and practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m no longer religious, but I was Mormon and the answer is that it depends. Almost all religious activities happen at regular chapels and everybody is welcome there. A few religious ceremonies take place in temples (those more ostentatious buildings) and atheists are not allowed there; in fact many believing and active members are not allowed there.

But if you keep your atheism to yourself, you can participate freely -- right?

Different poster here. I'm not Mormon, but I know some people who are LDS, and the answer is no. You can only go into the temple if you are in good standing with the church.

Yes, in some religions there are spaces within certain places of worship that are restricted. But someone who is not Mormon can absolutely visit Mormon places of worship. Those Mormon missionaries you probably see in your neighborhood would be happy to bring you to their chapel (not the temple) to learn about their faith. That's pretty much their job. And the Mormon Temple in Kensington has a visitor center and a giant light display every winter that's sole purpose is to bring people, including atheists, in to learn about their faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course. United Methodist.

Yes, our Methodist church specifically says that everyone is welcome to the table. And unlike the Catholic Church mentioned above, our Methodist church will even extend communion to anyone present who wishes to participate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Episcopalian and definitely. We've almost certainly got atheists as regular parishioners.

+1. Episcopalianism seems to draw a lot of people who like the ritual, music, and contemplative aspects of worship, and openly tolerates questions and doubts. I've heard sermons where Episcopal priests have talked openly about wanting to help parishioners question/examine their faith.

Yes, the Episcopal church is a good place for atheists who can tolerate, or even like, going through the ritual of the mass every week. You'll have plenty of company, maybe including the priests.

Why in the world would a person kill Sunday mornings watching other people play dress up and put on a show nobody believes in?

Can only speak for my childhood church, which was Lutheran, but we had plenty of people show up who were hungry. And we fed them. Without checking their faith cards.

As it should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Episcopalian and definitely. We've almost certainly got atheists as regular parishioners.

+1. Episcopalianism seems to draw a lot of people who like the ritual, music, and contemplative aspects of worship, and openly tolerates questions and doubts. I've heard sermons where Episcopal priests have talked openly about wanting to help parishioners question/examine their faith.

Yes, the Episcopal church is a good place for atheists who can tolerate, or even like, going through the ritual of the mass every week. You'll have plenty of company, maybe including the priests.

Why in the world would a person kill Sunday mornings watching other people play dress up and put on a show nobody believes in?

Possibilities:
1. pleasant childhood memories
2. they like to get dressed up and go out on Sundays
3. they like the sermons, which are not particularly religious.
4. They like the music
5. believing isn't important to them or many of the other people there.
6. they think/hope that someday they will believe.
7. They like the community - activities, childcare, dinners, etc.
8. They think they should - for the children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m no longer religious, but I was Mormon and the answer is that it depends. Almost all religious activities happen at regular chapels and everybody is welcome there. A few religious ceremonies take place in temples (those more ostentatious buildings) and atheists are not allowed there; in fact many believing and active members are not allowed there.

And yet a mother or father who are not Mormon can not be at the wedding ceremony of their child that is?

Hum cult?